The question of public executions--whether they should be televised and available to the public was discussed. Wallace says, why yes, of course--it's a policy our government has, the people have asked for it, they should be seeing what they're voting for. The victims rights advocate was against it, saying televising executions would further dehumanize the victims of violent crime. The attorney general had the most interesting opinion, though--when asked what purpose executions served, his response was a very firm, "Retribution. Revenge." He didn't think it was a deterrent, or anything like that, it's just a simple way to get back at the criminal for their act.

It was a fascinating thing for NPR to do, both because I believe the tape should be public, but they also marketed it in a curious way, (the catchy name for instance, and the fact that it's May sweeps). And honestly, it's not a tape of an execution--it's a tape of someone describing an execution, which is in my opinion very different.